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The Four Words that are the key to a Happy Marriage. Read on!

By
Real Estate Agent

Greg Gorman from Naples, FL tagged me for this "MeMe."

Charlie's Library

Here is the way it works:

  1. Grab the nearest book.
  2. Open the book to page 56.
  3. Find the fifth sentence.
  4. Post the text of the next two to five sentences.
  5. Don't dig for your favorite book, the cool book or the intellectual one. Pick the Closest.
  6. Tag five people to do the same

*The one book that this can not be is the Bible*

Well this was the first thing I saw this morning when I was having coffee at our kitchen table and I replied back to Greg "This will be fun, Greg. As soon as I get my eyes open this morning I'll get going. The John Maxwell book you had is one my wife has. She's a bank manager and has several of his books that she'd recommend highly."

The next thought was, gee I hope this is not embarrassing, I hope it's not "Everything you ever wanted to know about sex but were afraid to ask" or some similar book. Or it could very well have been a cookbook, since Charmaine has been working on Thanksgiving already. No cookbooks around, so I looked in the next room that we call the 'office' or 'library' but is used for neither really.

First bookshelf I came to, closest book on the top shelf. Ah, Greg, you're gonna make me look good today!

(OK, I cheated, the first book was really the Spanish Dictionary. Page 56, the 5th word was croqueta = croquette. The next book is the one I choose to use!)

The book that was closest to me was "Married for Life" by Bill Morelan

Books

Here is the fifth sentence from the 56th page from the chapter "Agree that it's ok to disagree":

"If you and your wife plan to remain travel partners for life, you must find ways to prevent simple differences of opinion from escalating into verbal warfare powerful enough to send you on your separate ways. It's imperative that you to learn to "fight fair" when disagreements arise. In other words, put up with each other."

A quick, true story about how this is really right!

A couple of Fridays ago we had a pretty bad windstorm that hit the Ballentine, Whiterock, Chapin, SC area and as mother nature would have it, it happened right at 5 o'clock. We had a dead tree to blow down in just the right spot in the front yard, but about 5 feet of it was sticking out in the road.  I had already assessed the damage and, as husbands do, said, "I'll deal with it in the morning."

Wind Damage

Darkness fell as Charmaine came in, and she insisted that we go out there with a chain-saw and cut the tree up and get it out of the street.  I said, "Ah, let it stay there, It'll be OK."  She started putting on jeans and looking for her work gloves, preparing to go out and move the tree herself.

We were both tired and an argument ensued. I was right - not gonna go fooling with a chain saw in the dark, it's dangerous, people can just drive around it til tomorrow! She was right - it was dangerous for traffic in the street, we don't want to cause an accident.

We had a nice discussion (and a loud one), which she won, but we laughed about it later. She, as wives do, has a clever way of bringing a subject up several days later, and reminding me that she was more right than I was.

At any rate, "Put up with each other" is a great motto!  Remember the four words that are the key to a happy marriage, "You're right, I'm sorry!"

Now, I get to tag 5 people:

Liz Moras up in Canada.  I know she's well read!

Kelly Kilpatrick in California.  The west coast influence.

Paul Jones in Missouri.  Show us Paul!

Brian Block in Washington, DC.  Some good sense in the capitol.

Troy Erickson in Arizona.  Because I see he has a good woman at his side!

Charmaine's Book

This post is dedicated to my lovely wife, who is always right! 

803-622-3084

home@charlieharden.com

Dona Reynolds
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Stein Summers - Saint Joseph, MO
St. Joseph MO

Thanks Charlie, you are a real inspiration for us wives (but we're not ALWAYS right).....sometimes we do have to give in and say Sorry, you were right...

Nov 19, 2008 03:22 PM
Liz Moras Migic
Chilliwack, BC
Chilliwack, British Columbia - Realtor

What a sweet dedication and tribute to your wife!  Loved the stories...and thank you for tagging me - I'm honoured! :-) ps. love the bookcases!

Nov 19, 2008 04:57 PM
Charlie Harden
Columbia, SC

Bobby, tell us what you found???  Thanks for commenting!

Eliz, I'm doing good now that I got my "God Bless You!"

Dona, wives are wrong sometimes... but you know that's when y'all rewrite the rules!

Liz, thanks.  The bookcases were my idea!  Mine! Mine! Mine!

Sally, thanks for looking!  I know that had to be you out in HI.

Nov 20, 2008 01:02 AM
Anonymous
Bill Morelan

Charlie,

I google my name from time to time just to see what pops up. Your blog was a pleasant surprise!

Nice to know you're enjoying my book, and I got a kick out of your tree story. By the way, my maternal grandparents (who are mentioned in the book) were married for over 80 years! (Grandma just passed away a few months ago.) I've been so blessed to have them in my life, especially since they never lost their mental sharpness or sense of humor. Grandpa turned 98 in August, and is still as ornery as ever.  ; )

Regards,

Bill

Ps - If you ever want to drop me a note, my personal email is: ozarkauthor@gmail.com 

Nov 20, 2008 02:58 AM
#10
Kara Casamassina
International Property Management Group, LLC - Aiken, SC
Boomers and beyond

Hi Charlie -  this looks like it might be a great gift for newlyweds!    Have a good day :)

Nov 20, 2008 05:07 AM
Gene Mock
Associate Broker ~ Premier Team, KW Realty - Leesburg, VA
GRI, CRB, CRS, ABR, CIPS, TRC, SFR, SRES

Hi Charlie  -  they (wives) are always right - and we (husbands) are always sorry.   haha.   Good day.

Nov 20, 2008 06:05 AM
Tanya Venable
Orlando, FL
SEO, Mobile SEO, and Internet Marketing Consultant

Charlie, great story and it sounds like a great book.

Nov 20, 2008 08:28 AM
Mike Jones
SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) - Tucson, AZ
Mike Jones NMLS 223495

Charlie,

Great story, and you're starting to see things the right way.

I'm a transplant to the desert who was born in Baptist Hospital there in Columbia, and a graduate of CIU and USC Columbia for grad school!  Good to see Gamecocks blogging!

Mike in Tucson

Nov 20, 2008 08:31 PM
Michelle Minch
Moving Mountains Design Home Staging, Pasadena, CA - Los Angeles, CA
Home Staging Los Angeles and Orange County, CA

My husband's motto is: If Momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy:o)) We have been married for 10 years, and we are both in for the duration. You are a smart man. You will be happily married for a long time.

Nov 21, 2008 01:38 AM
Charlie Harden
Columbia, SC

Bill, thank you for dropping me a note and thank you for the book!  We have enjoyed the stories and one day hope to be your grandparents... well, you know what I mean!  Kudos to you for a great read!

Nov 21, 2008 03:00 AM
Mary Douglas
United Country Ponderosa Realty, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado - Red Feather Lakes, CO
REALTOR, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado

I had to tell my husband the other night, that he was right , and I was wrong - He was so surprised, he made me repeat it !!!

Thanks for the post.

Nov 21, 2008 03:05 AM
Charlie Harden
Columbia, SC

Kara and Tanya, it really is a good book, and I did buy it as a gift!  Hope you have good weekends!

Gene, you're right, we're sorry.  (I don't think that came out quite right.)

Mike, thanks for that!  Cool on living in Cola for a time.  I bet AZ isn't quite so humid in the summer!

Michelle, I believe your husband is correct.  You are lucky!  He's the smart one!

Nov 21, 2008 03:13 AM
Charlie Harden
Columbia, SC

Mary. haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!  Now that's funny!

Nov 21, 2008 03:14 AM
Mike Jones
SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) - Tucson, AZ
Mike Jones NMLS 223495

Michelle,

The other part of "If Momma Ain't Happy, Aint Nobody Happy" is "If Poppa Ain't Happy, Who Cares!"

Charlie,

Sorry for hijacking your post!  LOL

Mike in Tucson

Nov 21, 2008 03:42 AM
Tony Orefice
NorthGroup Real Estate/www.TonyORealtor.com - Concord, NC
Realtor- Cabarrus County, NC

Great MeMe! When I have more time I'll do one for myself. Thanks and

Keep on bloggin'

Nov 22, 2008 02:16 AM
Chad Baird
Re/Max Spirit - Dayton, OH

When that storm hit my area My back suddenly went out.  So god love the wife she had to take care of the damage.  Call it a miracle, but as she was finishing, I felt this warmth come over me and I WAS HEALED!  I went out to offer assistance, but it was done. 

Nov 22, 2008 05:38 AM
Sonja Adams
Keller Williams Realty - Purcellville, VA

Wow.....your wife taught you well! she's always right is the right answer! lol

Nov 22, 2008 06:08 AM
Peggy Wester
Realty Executives Integrity - Grafton, WI
Real Estate Agent Ozaukee & Washington County

This is great! I've never heard of a "MeMe." Will have to try it!

Nov 22, 2008 11:33 AM
Debbie Hutchins
Birmingham, AL

Charlie, You put a nice new twist to this MeMe thing.  Being a good husband is something to be proud of! I am glad you had a MeMe opportunity to share a very nice quality!

Debbie

Nov 23, 2008 12:46 AM
Charlie Harden
Columbia, SC

Mike, hijack away!  Appreciate it.

Tony thanks for reading.  Let us know when you do one!

Chad!  Awesome!  It's a true miracle healing!  Glad you offered to help her, that show's your heart is truly in the right place.  I'm BELIEVING!

Sonja, you got that right, girl.  She's right most of the time anyway, so I just go with it.

Peggy, what are you reading?  OK I'm officially tagging you, you're it!

Debbie, thanks for the nice compliment.  It was just luck... ha!  Having the right book nearby helped!

Nov 23, 2008 12:54 AM